The best fly sprays for horses are an absolute lifesaver in the summer months – they are highly effective and long-lasting, which negates the need for constant reapplication. Flies are a general nuisance, but for some horses their bites can lead to reactions and persistent itching and discomfort. With a wide range of flying insects across the country, protecting your horse can present a challenge.
What is the best way to keep flies off horses?
Using a range of methods to protect your horse from flies is most effective. Preventing flies from landing in the first instance is the best solution for protecting your horse – in addition to the best fly spray for horses, you can use fly gels, lotions or washes as well as fly masks and fly rugs to arm your horse with the best possible defence. Fly gels are particularly handy if your horse is not keen on being sprayed. It can be a case of trial and error to find out what works best for your horse, but once you’ve found a solution you can buy in bulk and save money in the long run. Some owners swear by their own home recipes for fly spray.
Some of the best fly deterrents contain synthetic active ingredients such as DEET or permethrin, some of which are insecticides, while other sprays contain natural ingredients known to deter a range of flying insects. Some formulas will need to be reapplied more often than others, so while some appear to be more expensive, they may last you a lot longer. It’s also wise to consider both the bottle and spray type – finding a gentle and quiet spray with good coverage can be difference between a calm and stressful turnout routine.
In the UK there are a lot of restrictions about what can be called a fly repellent, what can be applied to your horse and how companies can talk about different products. This guide includes a full range of fly deterrents and summer sprays – those you can apply to your horse, as well as those that should be applied to his living area or your feed room. Some products in this guide have been approved for use on animals in the US, while in the UK they are only approved for premise use around horses. Anyone choosing to use the spray in a manner that is not in line with the guidance on the bottle’s label, does so at their own risk.
Best fly sprays for horses and their premises
Leovet Power Phaser
Sizes: 550ml, 2.5l
RRP: £21.45 for 550ml
H&H Rating: 10/10, H&H Approved
This blend of effective ingredients provides a long-lasting stay-off effect from all insects, even when your horse sweats. Correctly applied, this product can last up to seven hours. Also available as 75ml roll on.
We found this product to be really effective and good value. It has a strong smell so isn’t for everyone, but it really works.
Read H&H’s independent Leovet Power Phaser review.
Absorbine Ultrashield Insecticide
Active ingredients: Permethrin and pyrethrin
Sizes: 946ml
RRP: £29.33
H&H Rating: 10/10, H&H Approved
This spray provides what is described as an “instant knock-down” to nuisance insects, as well as a long-lasting protective “shield”. This new bottle provides an ergonomic grip, plus a vertical and horizontal fan spray option, for upside-down usage and hard-to-reach areas, which also makes sure you can use every last drop.
When we tested this fly spray, it came out in an even, thick mist — thanks to the fan-style sprayer — and coated surfaces well. We found the product lasted a long time – just under three months for one horse – and offered good value for money.
Read H&H’s independent Absorbine Ultrashield review.
Farnam Tri-Tec 14
Active ingredients: Cypermethrin and pyrethrins
Sizes: 600ml, 946ml, 3.8l
RRP: £29.95 for 600ml
H&H Rating: 9/10, H&H Approved
This spray is the leading insecticide in the US. It kills horse flies, mosquitoes, Scottish midges, mites, stable flies, crab flies, deer flies and ticks. The water-based formula has a pleasant scent and can stay in place for up to 14 days.
While it is widely used on horses in the US, in the UK it is only approved for premise use around horses. When testing this product, we found it was powerful and effective at repelling flies.
Read H&H’s independent Tri-Tec 14 review.
Barrier Super Plus Fly Repellent
Active ingredients: Eucalyptus citriodora oil
Sizes: 500ml, 1l, 5l
RRP: From £12.83 for 500ml
H&H Rating: 9/10, H&H Approved
Trusted by many horse owners, this fly repellent deters all flying insects and calms the effects of midge bites. The pleasant-smelling formula contains a blend of concentrated herbal oils, volatile essential oils and pure avocado oil, which is a skin and coat conditioner. The trigger spray has a quiet, fine action, and the formula is also available in a refill bottle.
When testing this fly spray, we found it conditioned the coat a lot more than other fly sprays we tested. While some repellents can be effective, they can dry the coat out and make it tacky on the touch, but this spray would be ideal for using when going to competitions, as it boasted shine on the hair and conditioned the coat, all while repelling flies.
Read H&H’s independent full Barrier Super Plus fly spray review.
NAF Off DEET Power Performance
Sizes: 750ml, 2.5l, 5l
RRP: £19.99 for 750ml
H&H Review: 9/10, H&H Approved
This concentrated anti-fly and anti-insect repellent spray from NAF is designed for year-round protection from a wide range of pests. Contains 19.6% DEET.
We tested this fly spray and found it to be a good all-rounder that is effective in many situations, from protecting from pests out hacking, to using just before a competition on a summer day or applying on exposed areas prior to turnout. Read the full NAF Off DEET Power Performance spray review.
Carr & Day & Martin Flygard Extra Strength Insect Repellent Spray
Active ingredients: DEET
Sizes: 500ml, 1l
RRP: £16.75
H&H Rating: 8/10
This spray is described as an effective alternative to a natural-based repellent. The formula offers protection from midges and biting insects and contains the proven, researched active ingredient DEET at an optimum level of 20% for long-lasting protection.
When we tested this fly spray, we found the spray mechanism was brilliant; it was hard-wearing, robust and provided an even coating of liquid when sprayed onto the coat. It would survive being passed around on a working yard and would be fine to throw into the lorry without worry that it would leak or spill. We found it was good to use, too, especially on horses who were not keen on sprayers as it was easy to apply and the mist was delicate.
Read H&H’s independent full Carr & Day & Martin Flygard Extra Strength review.
Equine America Forget Flies Silent Spray
Sizes: 500ml
RRP: £22.99
This fly spray is designed for nervous and sensitive horses who dislike the noise of a normal spray – it has a “significantly reduced hiss”. With the help of the latest technology, Forget Flies improves the repelling properties of garlic without the use of chemicals. It has a lemongrass aroma.
In the UK? View now at equine-america.co.uk
Carr & Day & Martin Flygard Protector
Sizes: 1l
RRP: £29.95
This heavy duty stable spray is formulated for protecting your horse’s environment from irritating flying and biting insects. The water-based insecticide formula contains cypermethrin, which has a fast acting “knock-down” effect and should provide weeks of protection.
Nettex Standard Fly Repellent
Sizes: 250ml, 500ml, 2l
RRP: £14.90 for 500ml
H&H Rating: 8/10
This DEET-based formula has added moisturisers and conditioners and is ideal for everyday use. It repels flies, stable flies, and all biting insects.
This spray proved really effective against the midges and other annoying flies, when we tested it, but we found it was not so effective against the horseflies.
Read H&H’s independent full Nettex fly spray review.
Lincoln Power Repel
Sizes: 500ml, 1l, 4l
RRP: £18.50 for 500ml
This dual-action formula uses DEET and PMD to provide effective protection for up to 12 hours. It’s effective against flying insects, midges, gnats, and horseflies, and has a pleasant lemongrass oil fragrance.
Botanica Fly Spray
Sizes: 750ml
RRP: £19.79
This all-natural plant-based spray can be used directly on your horse. It’s described as sweat resistant and a deterrent to all insects.
Cavalor FlyLess
Active ingredients: Icaridine
Sizes: 500ml
RRP: £24
H&H Review: 7/10
This gentle and non-sticky formula protects against horseflies, flies, mosquitoes, ticks and other insects. It contains icaridine, which forms a scented blanket on the skin, disrupting the mechanism that attracts insects to human and animal skin.
We found this bottle to be really robust with a great spray mechanism. It didn’t last as long as others we tested, but we think it’s a great option to have on show day before you go in the ring. Read H&H’s full independent Cavalor FlyLess review.
Shires Ezi-Groom Citronella Spray
Sizes: 500ml
RRP: £8.99
This spray from Shires contains a natural blend of citronella, lavender oil, chrysanthemum oil and tea tree oil.
WildWash Equine Summer Spray
Sizes: 300ml, 1l, 5l
RRP: £14.95 for 300ml
Made in England, this natural and pH balanced formula is made of pure essential oils. Horsetail, eucalyptus and nettle are combined to create an effective aroma, which will last up to 24 hours, for summer use.
Fouganza Fougafly
Sizes: 500ml
RRP: £14.99
This spray keep flying insects (horseflies, flies, gnats, and mosquitos) and ticks away from your horse and provides up to eight hours of protection.
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